East Ayrshire Council has announced its support for a bid to carry out an extensive programme of regeneration and restoration in Dalmellington.

Last week, the Council's Cabinet gave the green light to its Heritage Projects team to prepare an application to Historic Scotland for Conservation Area Regeneration Scheme (CARS) funding.

CARS provides partial grant aid, which is matched by Council funding, to owners of buildings in designated conservation areas. The monies are used to repair fabric such as roofing, rainwater goods and windows through the use of traditional, proven methods as well as materials to make the properties wind and watertight, and therefore fit for future use.

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This round of CARS funding comprises a £10m pot which will shared among the successful bidders throughout Scotland over the next five years, commencing in April 2015. The maximum available funding for any authority will be set at £2m.

Welcoming the news, Councillor Jim Buchanan, East Ayrshire Council's spokesperson for Delivering Community Regeneration, said: "We've already proven with our work in other East Ayrshire towns, the difference that CARS projects can make to businesses, homes and the whole vibrancy of our historic town centres.

"Our previous CARS schemes have been instrumental in providing new and upgraded offices, retail spaces and homes. Local contractors have taken on and trained apprentices and kept their men in work through these projects and our high streets show the benefit of the facelifts.

"Although there are no guarantees at this stage, we are very hopeful that our team will once again prove able to provide a strong case for Dalmellington and Waterside to benefit from a CARS boost."

Bids for the latest round of CARS funding are to be submitted by 31 August.

(JP/MH)